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Michael Riley, UDC Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Relations, Inducted Into Cardozo High School Athletics Hall of Fame
Washington, DC - Michael Steve Riley, Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations at the University of the District of Columbia was among six distinguished alumni inducted into the Cardozo High School Athletics Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 5, 2011.
Riley, a 1971 graduate of Cardozo High School, was a standout guard on the men’s basketball team. Riley earned team Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1969. In 1971 he was selected Most Valuable Player and was named to the All-Interhigh 1st Team. After attending Cordozo High School, Riley served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 1974 on the USS Holland stationed in the Mediterranean. Riley went on to graduate from Georgetown University with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology. While at Georgetown, Riley was a member of the Hoya Men’s Basketball Team where he was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.
In addition to his playing career at Georgetown, Riley was an assistant basketball coach at Georgetown from 1983 to 2004. While at Georgetown, Riley coached the Hoyas to six Big East Conference Championships, four Big East Tournament Championships, two Final Fours, and the 1984 National Championship. He also served as the academic coordinator during his tenure at Georgetown. Riley was also an assistant coach for the 1988 Olympic basketball team that earned the bronze medal.
Riley was humbled by his induction and said, “To be elected to the Hall Of Fame at Cardozo High School is unrivaled to any award I have ever received. It touched my heart when I received the phone call telling me the good news of my selection. My years at Cardozo High School were the best years of my life. I developed friendships that are just as strong today as they were during those formative years. As a young child all of my neighborhood friends and heroes went to the school on the hill, and I could not wait to follow in their footsteps.
The teachers and coaches at Cardozo gave me the courage, confidence, and belief that I could be successful outside of my neighborhood. Harold Deane (Basketball) and Robert Headen (Football) are two very dynamic coaches, and I was lucky to have them teach me. They helped me understand how the classroom and athletic field could help me achieve my goals. I will always cherish the days I spent at Cardozo High School. The best part was we knew they were wonderful days when we were there.”
In addition to his accomplishments at Cardozo and Georgetown, Riley also served as Athletic Director at St. Augustine Catholic School. From 1980 to 1982, he was an Assistant Headmaster, Economics teacher, and junior varsity basketball coach at Gonzaga College High School.
Riley came to the University of the District of Columbia in 2009, and he currently serves as the Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations.
